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Monsignor Patrick O’Connor Culleton (1877-1960) of Kilbride, Glenmore
Today, we are going to feature the Right Reverand Monsignor Patrick O’C Culleton (1877-1960) a native of Kilbride, Glenmore. After being ordained in Waterford he left for the American mission. Msgr. Culleton spent his entire ministry in the Peoria Diocese of Illinois. Thanks to Sr. Lea Stefancova, SFJB, of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, of the Peoria (Illinois) Diocese for providing us with photos and newspaper clippings from the Diocese archive. This post is dedicated to Msgr. Culleton’s niece, Ciss Roche née Culleton of Rathinure who will be 95 in December 2024.
Culleton Family of Kilbride, Glenmore
Monsignor Culleton was the eldest child of James Culleton (1845-1912) and his wife Margaret Connors (sic) or O’Connor (1839-1918). His mother Margaret O’Connor was from Ballyfacey, Glenmore. Even today the O’Connors are often referred to as the Connors. Msgr. Culleton’s parents were married 3 February 1876 at Glenmore and he had three known siblings.
His brother Michael Culleton (18 Oct. 1878-21 Feb. 1968) remained on the family farm in Kilbride and married Alice Hartley of Weatherstown, Glenmore on the 26th of November 1914. Alice’s father was Edward Hartley (farmer), and Michael’s father was Michael Culleton (farmer). Michael Culleton (1878-1968) and Alice Culleton had one son and four daughters. [1] James Culleton (c. 1917-2012); [2] Anastatia Culleton (c. 1919-1927); [3] Margaret Culleton (c. 1916-1932); [4] Nellie Walsh née Culleton (c. 1920 -2016) and [5] Ciss Roche née Culleton of Rathinure, Glenmore.
Msgr. Culleton’s brother, George Culleton (b. 6 Nov. 1881) married Mary Walsh at Carrick-on-Suir on the 29th of October 1919, and they farmed and raised their family in Ashtown. Their son James became a priest also serving in Illinois.
Msgr. Culleton also had a sister Ellen Culleton (b. 4 Oct. 1883).
Education
We believe that Msgr. Culleton attended the old Ballyfacey National School. He attended Waterford Christian Brothers and went on to St. John’s College, Waterford where he was ordained on the 14th of June 1900 at the age of 23. Msgr. Culleton was appointed to the Peoria Diocese on the American Mission. He arrived in the United States in September 1900.
Assigned Ministries
After arriving in the Peoria Diocese, he was appointed assistant pastor of St. Patrick’s church of Danville, Illinois. Danville is approximately 120 miles from Peoria located near the Indiana border.
On 2 October 1903, he was commissioned by the late Bishop Spalding to found a new parish in Westville, six miles north of Danville. Six years later he was transferred by the Bishop to Peru, Illinois on 10 March 1909, as pastor of St. Mary’s church. Msgr. Culleton remained in Peru until January 1923 when he was assigned to Peoria’s, St. Patrick’s parish.
While Msgr. Culleton was working in Peru he had to register for the draft. In his World War I draft registration of 12 September 1918, Msgr. Culleton gave his name as “Patrick O’Connor Culleton.” He resided at 1319 Van Bureau St., Peru, Illinois. He recorded that he was employed as a Catholic Priest, 41 years of age and a naturalized citizen. He listed his mother Mrs. Margaret Culleton as his next of kin with an address of Kilbride, Glenmore, Waterford, Ireland. He was physically described as tall and stout with gray eyes and brown hair.
It was also in Peru that his first cousin Miss Mary Anne Harte (1891-1976) emigrated from Co. Kilkenny, Ireland in September 1922 to work as his housekeeper. When she applied for naturalisation in January 1923 she gave her address as 1315 6th St., Peru, Illinois.
On the recommendation of Bishop Joseph H. Schlarman, Father Culleton was raised to the status of a domestic prelate by Pope Pius XII on 23 November 1939, to which rank was attached the title Right Reverend Monsignor. He was later appointed by Bishop Schlarman as building commissioner of the diocese, which position he continued to hold in 1950. “He was keenly interested in education and in addition to a church, he also built schools in Peoria [Diocese] and in the city of Peoria” (Kilkenny People, Sat. 2 April 1960, p. 1).
Golden Jubilee: 14 June 1950
Msgr. Culleton celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood by celebrating Mass. He was assisted by the Rev. J.M. Fitzgerald. The Rev. James P. Culleton, his nephew, served as deacon; the Rev. J.J. Gaule as subdeacon; and the Rev. R.E. Gates as master of ceremonies. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. J.P. Christopher, professor at the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C.
Following the Jubilee Mass, Msgr. hosted a luncheon at St. Mary’s school hall for visiting priests and relatives. At the time of his Golden Jubilee Msgr. Culleton had served at St. Patrick’s in Peoria City for 27 years. Serving as chairman of the luncheon was the Rev. James M. Fitzgerald, pastor of St. Mark’s who introduced the Rev. TP Kelly of Clinton to serve as toastmaster.
Luncheon Tributes
“Referring to Monsignor Culleton as one of the great men of the Peoria Diocese the Rt. Rev. P. H. Durkin of Rock Island, Vicar-General of the Diocese said his name will be held in reverence at St. Patrick’s for many years to come.” (Newspaper clipping dated 15 June 1950).
Msgr. Culleton’s knowledge of architecture and work in building churches at Peru former parishes were praised by several speakers. Other speakers paying tribute to Msgr. Culleton included the Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. R. Reidy chancellor of the diocese; and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Barden of the Lincoln, Nebraska, diocese who was a schoolmate of Msgr. Culleton in Ireland as well as four other priests.
Wires of congratulations were read from the Most. Rev. Joseph H. Schlarman, Bishop of Peoria, who was not present as he had sailed “Tuesday for Europe” and Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen who once served as an assistant at St. Patrick’s. [For more information on Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen see his Foundation webpage.]
Public Reception
Approximately 500 persons filled Roosevelt auditorium for the public reception. On the program were four priests representatives of parish groups and students, Mayor Joseph O. Malone, the school and adult choruses, and several solo musicians.
Speakers included the Rev. E.J. Bratowski, pastor of St. Dominick’s church in Wyoming. and Msgr. Culleton’s first assistant at St. Patrick’s, the Rev. William Bouchers of St. Joseph’s in Rock Island, Msgr. Culleton’s former assistant at St. Patrick’s and the Rev. William Gray, present assistant there. The Rev. James M. Fitzgerald, pastor of St. Mark’s church, was master of ceremonies.
Speaking on behalf of the parish trustees were Thomas Whalen and Richard Madigan, who presented Msgr. Culleton with cash gift from the parishioners. After 1950 Msgr. Culleton remained at St. Patrick’s for more than 8 years.
Death
Five days after having suffered a stroke, Msgr. Culleton died on 1 March 1960 in St. Francis’ Hospital in Miami Beach, Florida. Funeral services were held 5 March 1960 in Peoria. Bishop John B. Franz officiated at the Pontifical Requiem Mass in St. Patrick’s Church and also at the Office of the Dead the previous evening. The obituary received from Sr. Lea provides that Msgr. Culleton was survived by a nephew, Fr. James Culleton, pastor of St. Louis’ Parish, Princeton; and a cousin, Miss Mary Harte, who was his housekeeper for many years. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery of West Peoria, Illinois. To view Msgr. Culleton’s headstone, see Find a Grave.
The Kilkenny People Obituary
Monsignor Dies—The death has occurred unexpectedly in Florida, United States of the Right Rev. Monsignor Patrick Culleton, native of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny. He was brother of Mr. Michael Culleton, Kilbride, Glenmore and Mr. George Culleton, Ashtown, do., and uncle of Very Rev. James P. Culleton, P.P., Princeton, Illinois, United States. He is also survived by nephews and nieces in South Kilkenny.
The late Monsignor Culleton was born in Glenmore parish in 1877 and was educated in Waterford Christian Brothers schools and at St. John’s College, Waterford where he was ordained on June 14, 1900 at the age of 23. He went on the American mission the same year and his appointment was in the Diocese of Peoria. He served in Waterville, Danville and finally in the city of Peoria. He was made a Domestic Prelate by the late Pope Pius XII.
A kindly priest and untiring worker for the temporal and spiritual welfare of his people Mons. Culleton won a warm place in the hearts of his parishioners where he ministered. He was keenly interested in education and in addition to a church, he also built schools in Peoria and in the city of Peoria where he ministered before his death.
Monsignor Culleton belonged to an old and respected Glenmore family. There was an extremely large attendance of clergy and laity at the obsequies in Peoria where interment took place after Solemn Requiem Office and High Mass. Requiem Office and High Mass were also celebrated in Glenmore Church (Kilkenny People, Sat. 2 April 1960, p. 1).
The Demise of St. Patrick’s of Peoria
In attempting to find a photo of the church where Msgr. Culleton worked for over 37 years, we discovered that St. Patrick’s of Peoria was a red brick building located at the corner of Saratoga and McBean. It was dedicated in 1881. Due to falling numbers St. Patrick’s closed as a Roman Catholic Church in 1976. The parishes of St. Patrick’s combined with St. Joseph’s and used the existing St. Joseph’s building. St. Patrick’s church was advertised as seating 700 was placed on the market for $49,500.
Since 1976 different churches bought the premises and held services in the building until 2023 when the roof collapsed and the building had to be demolished (Tim Shelley, WCBU Local News, 29 July 2023). A sad end for a historic church.
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Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The feature photo above is from Msgr. Culleton’s Requiem Mass in St. Patrick’s church of Peoria. Special thanks to Sr. Lia for providing this photo and the photos of Monsr. Culleton. The photo of St. Patrick’s of Danville, Illinois is from an old postcard.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
See generally, Dean Muellerleile, “Historic Collapsed Church in Peoria, IL Tied to Sainthood,” Peoria Journal Star (7 Aug. 2023).
For a brief history of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois click here.
For other cousins of Msgr. Culleton see our post of 5 Aug. 2024.
Update: John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) native of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
In 1938, just five years before John J. O’Connor’s untimely death, the Citizens Historical Association compiled a book of biographical sketches of Kansas City Citizens. The Citizens Historical Association was organized in Indianapolis in 1934, to establish a national library of historical and biographical information. With a small fee, the company prepared biographical sketches which could include genealogical information on a person’s ancestors. The association disbanded in 1952 and the biographical sketches were sold to the Indiana State Library.
John J. O’Connor was a member of the Kansas City Chapter of the Citizens Historical Association. Thanks to the Kansas City Public Library for copying and sending the biography he wrote in 1938. The helpful library staff also sent a later photo of John J. O’Connor’s business premises of 1104 Union St., Kansas City, Missouri. See our post of 5 August 2024 for further information on the O’Connor family.
Biographical Sketch
The complete sketch is below and retains the abreviations used in the original publication. Non-original additional information has been placed in [ ].
John J. O’Connor, President, O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Co., 1104 Union Street, Kansas City, Missouri (1938)
John J(oseph) O’Connor, b,, in County Kilkenny, Ireland, Mar. 2, 1886; s. of John Joseph and Brigid (Roche) O’Connor.
John Joseph O’Connor, b. in County Kilkenny, Ireland. He was a farmer in his native country prior to his death, which occurred in 1912. His wife, Brigid (Roche) O’Connor, who was b. in County Kilkenny, Ireland, died in 1905.
[John O’Connor and Brigid Roche were married at Glenmore on 4 March 1878. John was the son of George O’Connor of Ballyfacey and Brigid Roche was the daughter of Edmond Roche of Rathinure. Brigid “Conners” née Roche died at the family home in lower Balleyfacey on 1 June 1905 at the age of 58. Her son Pat was present when she died of suspected heart disease. Her husband, John “Connors” (widower) farmer died at Ballyfacey on the 16th of November 1911. His son George was present at his death. His age was recorded as 82. A baptismal record was located for John “Conors” the son of George Connors and his wife Catherine Dollard at Ballyfacey on 25 June 1830].]
John J. O’Connor, the subject of this sketch, attended rural grade schs., and the national schs. in Ireland, after which he was a student at Waterpark Coll., in Waterford, Ireland. He came to America in 1905, settling in Kansas City, Mo. and in 1908, graduated from the Kansas City School of Law with an LL.B. deg., after which he passed the bar examination. While attending law sch., he became employed as a bill clerk by the S & S Packing Company, of Kansas City, with which firm he remained 3 yrs.
He then was associated with the Commerce Trust Company, as a tell, three and a half years., following which he was identified with the Flanagan Brothers Manufacturing Company, in Kansas City, 18 mos. Mr. O’Connor subsequently was identified until 1936, with the McManus-Heryer Brokerage Company, of which he was sec., after which he organized the O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Company, of which firm he is pres. He serves also as a dir. of the South Side Bank. Mr. O’Connor, who is an ind. Democrat, is a mem. of the following: Central Industrial Dist. Assn.; K. of C. (3rd deg.); Ancient Order of Hibernians; Milburn Gold and Country Club; Kansas City Chapter, Citizens Hist. Assn.; and Guardian Angel (Roman Catholic) Church. His hobby is golf.
In Mar. 1912, Mr. O’Connor married Catherine Queenan, who was b. in County Mayo, Ireland. Children: (1) John J., Jr. He married Loretto Fetters, and they reside in Kansas City, Mo. (2) Catherine B., who resides in Kansas City. (3) Margaret Mary, who is employed in the Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library. (4) Mary Ellen, who is in school, in Kansas City. (5) Edward Patrick, who also attends school in Kansas City.
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The featured photo above is of 1104 Union Street, the premises of the O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Company of Kansas City, Missouri.
Website Update–We have added a large number of obits and other information to the family surname pages over the last few weeks. We are currently reviewing the website as we are outgrowing it.
If you have any corretions, additional information or thoughts on the re-structuring of the webpage please email glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Building the Railway: Glenmore Man’s Remains Unearthed & Another Man Injured
The New Ross Standard, of Friday 27 Feb. 1903 (p. 5) published a sensational article concerning skeletal remains unearthed in Rosbercon on Monday the 23rd of February 1903. While excavating a sewer under the newly laid railway crossing “well preserved bones of what must have been a largely built man when in the flesh.” The same article appeared within days in the Wicklow People (Sat. 28 Feb. 1903) and the Enniscorthy Guardian (Sat 28 Feb. 1903). It was not carried apparently by any of the national papers.
The Centennial Controversy
As the 100th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion approached the old tales and rumours concerning Glenmore man William Gaffney, and his alleged betrayal at the Battle of New Ross, surfaced and led to his headstone in Kilivory (Kilmakevogue) cemetery being broken by vandals. Danny Dowling (1927-2021) in his article entitled “South-east Kilkenny in 1798 and the Role of William Gaffney,” (Decies (Sept. 1983, vol. 24) pp. 14-19)) sarcastically labeled the gravestone vandals “patriots.” For further information on Glenmore in 1798 see our post of 22 February 2020.
Some descendants of William Gaffney were still residing in Glenmore in 1898 and challenged several of the published attacks on their ancestor. Eight decades later, Danny was so impressed with Brigid M. Gaffney’s letter of 28 May 1898 to the New Ross Standard, that he published it in his Decies article. The ear bashing she delivered in 1898 is perhaps the reason the New Ross Standard in its 1903 article stated that it had no desire to hurt anyone’s feelings. For further information on the Gaffney family see our post of 21 August 2023.
“GAFNEY OF GLENMORE, HIS REMAINS UNEARTHED”
SENSATIONAL DISCOVERY AT ROSBERCON. A sensational discovery, which has aroused much public interest, was made at Rosbercon on Monday. A man named Dillon, whilst excavating a sewer-way under the railway crossing, unearthed the well-preserved bones of what must have been a largely-built man when in the flesh. There was evidence of considerable quantity of lime about the remains.
Now whose remains could these be? The “oldest inhabitant” cannot say with certainty. The body of a man could not have got there by accident. How then? It is conjectured, and the belief is strongly held in the locality, that the remains are those of Gafney, of Glenmore, who figured prominently, and to say the least, doubtfully, in the dark days of New Ross in the year 1798, when a brave and glorious, though unsuccessful, struggle was made by the county Wexford insurgents for civil and religions liberty.
We have no desire now to hurt the feelings of anyone, but the discovery of Monday, and the very circumstantial account told, and the widely accepted deduction made, necessitates our reverting to what must be a painful recital to some people. The battle at New Ross, though admittedly one of the most brilliant of the series on the part of the insurgents, was nevertheless the Waterloo of the insurrection, and, like Waterloo, will be rightly or wrongly associated with betrayal. Gafney, of Glenmore, an athletic man, and the leader of the Kilkenny insurgents, had his men nested at Tinneranny before the battle of Ross, and while the engagement was taking place, he moved by a circuitous route towards Glenmore.
His answer for failing to come to the fray was that he did not get the proper signal from Corbet Hill. A few days after the battle he fell into the hands of the military, and was taken to Rosbercon, and there court martialled and shot nearly opposite the very modern castle, and his remains were interred in quick-lime at some some point between the place of execution and the river. We thus see it is very possible that the remains now found are those of the ill-fated Gafney, who, at any rate, can scarcely be acquitted of cowardice.
The key stone of an arch supposed to belong to the old monastery in Rosbercon was found at the head of the remains, which were only about two feet under the footway as one turns into the station from the river side. By the way, the stone in question has been annexed by Paddy Lee, the Boat Club caretaker for the curiosity of the members of that institution.
Unfortunately, the New Ross Standard did not report on what happened to the skeletal remains.
The Glenmore Grave
Danny stated in 2020 that the remains found in Rosbercon were buried in the Gaffney grave in Kilivory (Kilmakevoge) cemetery. No newspaper coverage of this burial could be located, and what steps the authorities took to identify the remains is not known. This event took place long before DNA or other modern forensics. If the remains showed gunshot damage as alleged in the 1903 article it is unlikely the skeleton belonged to William Gaffney. Gaffney in contemporary accounts was hanged not shot by the British in 1798.
The old headstone erected by William Gaffney’s widow still stands with repairs clearly visible. On the grave itself paving like squares, apparently concrete, were added and Danny opined in 2020 that they may have been added to stop further disturbances to the grave.
The marker is inscribed:
Erected by Bridget Gafney alias Dunphy
in memory of her husband Will'm Gafney
who dep'd this life June ye 13th 1798 aged
36 years
Also his father Mich'l Gafney who dep'd
this life Sept ye 26th 1783
Another Railway Injury
In searching for newspaper accounts regarding the remains we came across another serious injury connected with the building of the railway extension line through Glenmore.
On Thursday, the 5th of March, Michael Knox, Nicholastown, Co. Kilkenny, was admitted to the Waterford County Infirmary suffering from severe injuries to the head and face. His injuries were caused by the premature explosion of a blasting charge on the New Ross to Waterford railway extension (Munster Express, Sat. 7 March 1903, p. 5).
Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The featured photo above was taken yesterday of the Gaffney grave at Kilivory (Kilmakevoge) Glenmore.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The O’Connor Brothers of Ballyfacey, Glenmore: Edward & John J. O’Connor
Recently we were asked about a grave marker in Kansas City, Missouri. It marks the graves of two Glenmore brothers Edward O’Connor (1882-1943) and John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. They were younger brothers of George O’Connor (1881-1966) of Ballyfacey. Today, we are going to highlight the lives of these two brothers and their tragic deaths within two weeks of each other in 1943.
Ballyfacey, Glenmore
The name O’Connor was generally called Connors or Conners in Glenmore even in the Parish Records. The O’Connors’ originated in Wexford (Michael Hoynes, 4 Aug. 2024). The name George Connors has long been associated with Ballyfacey, and at one point two cousins bearing the name lived side by side. To distinguish the families the locals referred to them as Big George and Little George.
The first record located in the parish records of a George Connors was a baptism on 11 November 1793 at Ballyfacey. The child’s parents were Thomas Connors and Johanna née Bolger. Two years later another George Connors was baptized at Ballyfacey on 2 May 1799, the son of John Connors and Mary née Culleton.
Parents of John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) & Edward O’Connor (1882-1943)
The parents of the brothers who died in 1943 were John Connors (1830-1911) of Ballyfacey and Bridget Roche (1847-1905) of Rathinure, Glenmore. John and Bridget married on 4 March 1878 at Glenmore. John was the son of George Connors (farmer) & his wife Catherine Dollard. Bridget Roche was the daughter of Edward Roche and his wife Elizabeth Malone of Rathinure, Glenmore.
John Connors and his wife Bridget Roche had five known children all born at Ballyfacey: [1] Catherine Connors (b. 1879); [2] George Connors (b. 1881); [3] Edward Connors (b. 1882) [4] Patrick Connors (b. 1883); and [5] John Connors (b. 1886).
John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) Kansas City, Mo.
According to the Naturalisation documents that John Joseph O’Connor filed in the Federal Courts of Missouri seeking US citizenship, he emigrated from Ireland in 1905 aboard the Campania, landing in New York on 17 September 1905. He was granted citizenship at Kansas City, Missouri on 4 March 1908.
A review of the Campania’s register reveals that the ship arrived in New York on 16 September 1905. John was 19 years of age, and stated that his father paid his fare. He declared that he had $10 and was traveling to his cousin, Rev. P. Culleton at St. Mary’s Rectory, Westville, Illinois.
It is not clear how or why John went to Kansas City, Missouri, however, he attended and graduated from the Kansas City School of Law in 1908. This independent law school was founded in 1895 by three young local lawyers. Its most famous graduate was Harry S. Truman. In 1911, John married Catherine Queenan, (a native of Mayo) and the couple had 6 children. Catherine died 21 November 1941 at the age of 53.
It does not appear that John practiced law. He became a broker of food and was president of the O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Company, located at 1104 Union Avenue. A quick newspaper search revealed that John was busy in the community. He was a member of the Committee for Friends of Irish Freedom along with Patrick J. Harpy; James Ahren; P.A. M’Kenna; C.A. Lawler; M.J. M’Nellis; and R.E. O’Malley. During de Valera’s trip to New York in 1919, the Committee telegraphed de Valera and asked him to come to Kansas City for a “monster rally.” (Kansas City Journal, Mon. 30 June 1919, p. 1). Some of the men on this Committee and other organisations that John belonged were John’s pallbearers when he died in 1943.
According to John’s obituary his other business interest was that he was a director of the South Side Bank. He was also a member of the local Democrats, Co-operative club, the Allied Food club, the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name Society. He held city, state and national offices in the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In fact, he was first elected President of the Missouri Branch of the OAH in 1916 (Kansas City Journal, Fri. 1 Sept. 1916, p. 10).
Kansas City Scandal
The only negative news story that could be located was from 1938 when a former friend sued John. Maurice J. McNellis sued Roy W. Crimm, executor for the estate of William D. Boyle; J.L. Cashen and John J. O’Connor. McNellis stated that from 1921 until December 1935 he was President of the South Side Bank of Kansas City. He alleged the defendants conspired to destroy his professional reputation and asked for damages of $200,000 (The Kansas City Times, Thu. 29 June 1938, p. 2). It is not clear what transpired that led to this suit, but it was during the Great Depression when many banks failed. We found another case that may have been the cause of the lawsuit against John.
William D. Boyle left an estate of $484,499.61 when he died on 3 June 1938 after being hit by a bolt of lightning while watching a golf tournament. Boyle was a member of the Boyle-Pryor Construction Company. This company received city contracts and was being sued by the city to recover $356,000. Boyle’s partner Pryor was indicted in the $356,000 water leak scandal. Two notes in the Boyle estate were alleged to have been executed by McNellis. Both were listed at no value (Kansas City Star, Thurs. 6 July 1939, p. 3).
The City believed that Rathford Engineering was a dummy company operated by William D. Boyle and John J. Pryor of the Boyle-Pryor Construction Company. Rathford was set up to defraud the City (Kansas City Star, Thu. 15 June 1944, p. 6). Ultimately a ten day trial was held and Judge Thomas J. Seehorn found for the defendants. The City appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court where a new trial was ordered (Kansas City Star, Tues. 6 March 1945, p. 3).
John J. O’Connor was not named and apparently had nothing to do with the “water leak scandal.” He and the other defendant, J.L. Cashen were Directors of the South Side Bank and it appears likely they took actions to protect the bank from the scandal. The deceased, William D. Boyle had stock in the bank and secured two notes from McNellis when he was President of the bank. Maurice McNellis went on to form the McNellis Real Estate Investment company, and no further newspaper coverage of his case against John J. O’Connor could be found.
Death 24 October 1943
Just two years after his wife’s untimely death, John O’Connor was killed on 24 October 1943 at 3:55 a.m. when “a motor car in which he was riding crashed into a trolley pole across the street from 5335 Ward Parkway. The motor car spun in the roadway and struck the pole broadside. The side on which O’Connor was riding was crushed. More than an hour was required to extricate him.”
Police reported that the pole was on a curve and a downhill grade. Earlier in the year it also was the scene of a crash “which killed LeRoy Simons, the president of the Simons-Wiles Buick Company.” O’Connor was the passenger in a coupe driven by Eugene P. Sheridan, 49 of 305 West 37th St., a credit manager for a rubber company. Sheridan told police that they were returning to O’Connor’s home at 4133 Mercier St., after an afternoon and night at the Milburn Golf and Country Club (Kansas City Times, Mon. 25 Oct. 1943, p. 1).
John’s wake was held in the family home. He was buried next to his wife and infant daughter, in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. John’s pallbearers were: Frank Sullivan; John J. Sullivan; Edwin M. Thompson; James P. Aylward; R.B. Lustig; John V. Hill; James A. Edwards; and Joseph M. Morrissey (Kansas City Star, Tues. 26 Oct. 1926, 1943, p. 7). A photo of the O’Connor grave marker can be viewed on Find a Grave.
[Editor’s note: The name Aylward has long been associated with Glenmore. The James P. Aylward (1885-1982) pallbearer was an attorney and served at various times as the chairman of the Kansas City Democrats, the Jackson County Democrats and the Missouri State Democrats. In 1934 the “Pendergast” machine asked him to stand for the US Senate. Aylward declined and instead recommended a county judge named Harry S. Truman” (Kansas City Times, Mon. 26 July 1982, p. 10.) James P. Aylward (1885-1982) the pallbearer was the eldest son of Tobias John Aylward (1860-1923) a native of Rochestown, Glenmore. See our A family surname page for further information.]
Children of John J. O’Connor (1886-1943)
[1] John J. O’Connor, Jr. (1912-1959) graduated from Notre Dame and the University of Kansas City School of Law. He worked for a time as a teller at the City National Bank, and in 1940 he went into the food business as a vice-president at George Hogue Mercantile, Co. . On the death of his father in 1943 he became chairman of the board of the South Side Bank. In 1957, he sold his interest in the mercantile and became president of the South Side Federal Savings and Loan Association in Waldo. He was married and had a large young family at the time of his death aged 47 (Kansas City Star, Tues. 24 Mar. 1959, p. 13).
[2] Catherine B. O’Connor Wyrsch (1914-1976) married Frederick R. Wyrsch, Sr. who was President of the South Side Bank and died in 1964. They had a large family. After Catherine was widowed she married Leo J. Cusick who was a manager of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and was a consultant to the Chicago Regional Transportation. Catherine died on vacation while in London, England (Kansas City Times, Thur. 6 May 1976, p. 84).
[3] Eliz. E. “Betty” O’Connor (1916-1918) died in infancy.
[4] Margaret Mary O’Connor Barry (1916-1989) married Robert C. Barry. Prior to her marriage she attended Alvila College and was a 1938 graduate of the College of St. Catherine of St. Paul, Minnesota. During the 1940’s Margaret worked as a librarian in the Kansas City Public Library. She had 5 children (Kansas City Times, Fri. 5 May 1989, p. 50).
[5] Mary Ellen O’Connor Ervin (1921-1999) continued to live in the family home 4133 Mercier until at least her brother’s death in 1959 (Kansas City Star, Tues. 24 March 1959, p. 13). She married Robert Edward Ervin in 1945. He died in 1984. The couple had five known children. Mary Ellen died in Leawood, Kansas in February 1999. In her obituary it was noted that her best friend remained her brother Edward (Kansas City Star, Sun. 21 Feb. 1999, p. 28).
[6] Edward Patrick O’Connor (1924-2020) was a freshmen at Notre Dame in Sept. 1941 (Kansas City Journal, Tues. 16 Sept. 1941, p. 8) just two months before his mother’s death. He graduated from the ROTC Naval Program in May 1944 and served as a Lt. on the USS Alvin C. Cockwell, a destroyer escort ship. He was on the deck of the USS Missouri and watched General McArthur accept Japan’s surrender. Returning to civilian life in Kansas City he became President of the Heritage Federal Savings and Loan, married and raised a family (Kansas City Star, Wed. 29 Jan. 2020, p. A3). He was he last of his family and died at the age of 95 in 2020.
Edward O’Connor (1882-1943) Kansas City, MO to Chicago, IL
Edward O’Connor filed naturalization papers in Kansas City, Mo. stating that he was born 23 April 1882. Edward stated that he arrived in the U.S. on the 27th of September 1907.
According to the Diary of James Aylward of Ballyhobuck, Glenmore [Danny Dowling’s Notebook 2], “Edward Connors of Ballyfacey and W. Grace of Kilbride sailed for the U.S. on 18 September 1907.” The 1901 Census provides that only one Grace family resided in Kilbride, Glenmore. W. Grace was William Grace (b.c. 1881).
Armed with this information we were able to find the two young men on the Baltic’s passenger list. The Baltic landed in New York on 28 September 1907. William Grace, aged 26, stated that he was a farmer. Edward O’Connor was 24 and stated that he too was a farmer and was planning to go to Kansas City where he had a brother.
Edward was naturalized on 6 July 1914 at Kansas City, Missouri. One of his witnesses was Maurice O’Connor of 1822 Summit St., Kansas City, Missouri. Maurice O’Connor per the 1911 City Directory was with the Fire Department. According to the 1910 Census, Maurice (b. 1870 in Ireland) was single, an Assistant Chief, and lodged with his cousin Joseph R. Scanlon who was also employed by the City.
Edward O’Connor remained a bachelor and lived for several years with his brother John J. O’Connor and his family in Kansas City. He worked as a clerk, an accountant and later sold life insurance. In the 1940 Census he recorded that he finished his education after the sixth grade.
Around 1926 Edward moved to Chicago, and died there in 1943. He appears to have remained close to his brother and his family the newspapers reported that he was “an out of town guest” at his niece’s wedding (Kansas City Journal, Sat. 25 Oct. 1941, p. 19). No newspaper articles could be found for Edward prior to 1943. By all appearances he led a quiet life, but here in Glenmore it was reported that he was robbed and killed on his way home one evening. Another rumour was that he was shot. We were unable to find any Chicago newspaper articles that indicated that Edward was the victim of a robbery or other violence that caused his death.
Death of Edward O’Connor (1882-1943)
The Kansas City Times (Tues. 9 Nov. 1943, p. 4) reported the following:
A Second Brother Killed: Tragedy Strikes John J. O’Connor Family Twice in Two Weeks—Tragedy has struck twice in two weeks in the family of John J. O’Connor, 4133 Mercier St. Mr. O’Connor was killed in a motor car crash near 53rd St and Ward Parkway October 24th, and yesterday his family was informed that M. O’Connor’s brother, Edward O’Connor, 61 years old, was found dead along a railroad right-of-way on Chicago’s near North Side early yesterday morning.
Friends of Edward O’Connor in Chicago said he was apparently in good health and spirits when they last saw him. Edward O’Connor, a bachelor, has made his home in Chicago for the last 16 years. He was in the life insurance business. Born in Ireland, Mr. O’Connor came to the United States and Kansas City in 1905. For many years he worked for Bruce Dodson & Co., and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He left Kansas City in 1926.
He is survived by a brother, George O’Connor who lives in Ireland. A nephew, John J. O’Connor, Jr., East 61st St. Terrace, left last night for Chicago. He said that funeral services would be held in Kansas City.
The Culleton Cousin
The Rt. Rev. Mons. Culleton of Peoria was Patrick Culleton (1877-1960) of Kilbride, Glenmore. He was the son of James Culleton (1845-1912) and his wife Margaret Connors (1839-1918). His parents were married 3 February 1876 at Glenmore. Patrick was ordained in 1900 and appointed to diocese of Peoria on American Mission. He had two brothers, Michael & George Culleton (b. 1881). Margaret Connors Culleton (1839-1918) was a sister of John Connors (1830- 1911) the father of John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) and Edward O’Connor (1882-1943). Thus, the three men were first cousins.
Patrick served in the Peoria Diocese all his religious life. He officiated at the marriage of John J. O’Connor’s daughters in Kansas City in the early 1940’s. Patrick died in 1960 in Miami Beach, Florida. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery of West Peoria, Illinois. To view Monsignor Patrick O’C Culleton’s headstone, see Find a Grave.
It is not known why Patrick used O’C for his middle initial. It is believed that there may have been other priests with the same or similar names, and he wished to distinguish himself by using his mother’s maiden name as his middle name. One of his nephews later became a priest and was also assigned to the Peoria Diocese.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Special thanks to Michael Hoynes of Ballybrahee, Glenmore for helping sort out the Ballyfacey Conners. The featured photo above is John J. O’Connor’s (1886-1943) yearbook photo from the Kansas City School of Law (1908).
We located a chapter in a book concerning John J. O’Connor which is held in the Kansas City Library. It is not available on line and when we secure a copy we may update this post.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore in the News: June 1924
In June 1924 the weather improved. It was reported early in the month that a large number of people took advantage of the extremely fine weather and cycled or took an excursion train to Tramore “or other beauty spots” (Munster Express, Sat. 7 June 1924, p. 3). The focus of several of the local newspapers articles was on roads and road crashes. The main road between Waterford and New Ross, that ran through Glenmore, was being improved. One newspaper proclaimed that when the work was complete it would be the finest road in the South of Ireland. There was also a tragic crash involving the Mullinavat handball team that resulted in the driver being charged with murder.
All Ireland Senior Football Final Abandoned
The Kerry football team refused to play Dublin in the All Ireland football final as a protest against the continued detention of the political prisoners was “received with all Irish sportsmen with keen regret. It was hoped that sports would be kept free from politics.” It was thought that it would split the ranks of the GAA.” (New Ross Standard, 20 June 1924, p. 4). “The reason for the sensational refusal to play was the continued detention of Mr. Austin Stack, Chairman of the Kerry County Board and other members of the Kerry GAA,” (Munster Express, Sat. 14 June 1924, p. 5).
Additionally, the Leinster Council GAA reported that the Leinster Championship hurling fixture between Dublin and Leix arranged for Kilkenny was cancelled owing to the refusal of Leix to take part until the prisoners were released. Likewise, the junior hurling tie between Dublin and Kildare arranged for Kilkenny was also cancelled (Kilkenny People, Sat. 21 June 1924, p. 7).
Glenmore GAA Fixtures
Senior Hurling—Glenmore v. Callan, at Thomastown on the 29th of June, Mr. T Mullins, referee.
Senior Football—Cotterstown v. Glenmore, at Thomastown, date to be named (Kilkenny People, Sat. 7 June 1924, p. 11).
Junior Hurling—Glenmore v. Hugginstown, at Knocktopher on August 10th, Mr. Peter Walsh referee.
Junior Football—Courtnaboughla (Goresbridge) v. Glenmore, at the Rower, July 30th, Mr. Patrick Walsh, referee (Munster Express, Sat. 28 June 1924, p. 6).
Emigrants
With the end of hostilities emigrants came home to visit. The estate of an emigrant who was a native of South Kilkenny also featured in the New Ross Standard.
During the middle of June “some twenty returned Americans arrived in the New Ross districts on a visit to their relatives. One lady from near Campile had been away forty years” (New Ross Standard, 20 June 1924, p. 5).
Several claimants from New Ross were “interested in the property of a man named Walsh who is it stated, died intestate in America recently. It appears that he hailed from South Kilkenny, and it is thought he was worth about £30,000. Amongst the relatives who are making claims in respect of the assets are Messrs Martin and John Hand and Mrs. Kneightly, New Ross (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 June 1924, p. 10). Unfortunately, we were not able to locate further articles to determine where the deceased was from in South Kilkenny.
New Ross Market Prices
New Ross Market Prices best coal, 55s. per ton; second coal, 50s. per ton; eggs 11d. per dozen; chickens, 1s. 2d. per lb., young ducks, 7s. per pair; fish, 2s. 4d per lb. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 6 June 1924, p. 10).
Mullinavat Handball Team Crash
When I mentioned this crash to my husband, he was immediately able to identify the driver as the son of the Kilmacow Creamery Manager. He related that he heard his father, Thomas Walsh (1908-1992) speak about the crash with Danny Dowling (1927-2023). We were unable to locate any notes on the subject in any of Danny’s notebooks that have been transcribed. One person was killed outright, another died a few days later and at least eight others were seriously injured and hospitalized.
The Crash of 8 June 1924
On Sunday the 8th a party of handball players from Mullinavat were traveling to Owning, Kilkenny, to “engage local players in a series of friendly matches.” The lorry carrying the Mullinavat players lost control on a steep hill and turned onto its side. Rev. Father Foskin, of Mullinavat, was seated next to the driver and jumped from the lorry and escaped serious injury. The scene of the crash was a couple hundred yards from the village of Owning, and was at the foot of the hill known in the district as Rath Hill. Eighteen people were being transported in the lorry (Munster Express, Sat. 14 June 1924, p. 4).
One Mullinavat player, John Murphy (c. 1903-1924) the son of James Murphy, publican was killed at the scene. The following were seriously injured and hospitalized.
[1] Andrew McLoughlin, Mullinavat Village, sustained a depressed skull fracture and was operated on Tuesday evening. He died of his injuries at 7:30 on Thursday night the 12th of June.
[2] Andrew Foskin, Mullinavat, Village (brother of Father Foskin) suffered severe injuries to his head. He remained unconscious for some days.
[3] Philip Hoban, Mullinavat Village, suffered cuts to his head.
[4] John White, suffered injuries to his spine.
[5] Thomas Hoban, of Glendonnell, suffered injuries to his head, face and a broken collar bone. A brother of Thomas Hoban was shot by the British military about three years before in Mullinavat.
[6] Patrick Kelly, of Rahard, suffered injuries to his hip and shock.
[7] Patrick Mackey, aged 12, Mullinavat, suffered a broken hand.
[8] Sergt. Dalton, civic guards, Mullinavat, suffered three broken ribs, and severe head and facial injuries.
[9] Guard Leahy, Mullinavat, injured his shoulder and suffered bruises.
Murder Charge
Thomas Walsh, the driver of the lorry was charged with “feloniously, unlawfully, and of malice aforethought kill and murder John Murphy…” Thomas Walsh (18) was the son of Richard Walsh, the Kilmacow Creamery Manager (Munster Express, Sat. 14 June 1924, p. 4).
It is not clear from the newspaper accounts why the driver Thomas Walsh (b.c. 1907) was overcharged with murder. It is difficult to see how on the facts presented that it could have been murder.
The 1911 Census provides that Richard Walsh was 41 (b.c. 1870), and was married to Eliza Walsh, aged 28. Richard was employed as a creamery manager. The family lived in Aglish, Kilmacow. Six children were born to the union but only four were alive in 1911. The eldest child was Thomas Walsh, aged 4, followed by Edward Walsh, aged 3, Michael aged 1 and John Walsh, aged 8 months.
Death of John Murphy (c. 1903-1924)
A witness at a hearing held in Waterford on Wednesday the 11th testified that the lorry was sometimes used as a hackney car. The vehicle was a one ton Ford lorry. There were benches “on the platform” and there were sides around the lorry “platform.” As the lorry was slowly descending the hill the witness heard a loud crack. He assumed it was the brakes. At the bottom of the steep hill the road turned sharply to the right and straight in front was a stone wall. The lorry turned onto its left side when the driver attempted to make the sharp right turn. The witness was unable to state how fast the lorry was traveling as it was the first time he had travelled on a lorry (Munster Express, Sat. 14 June 1924, p. 4).
The judge noted that it would likely be proved that the crash was an accident, however, he wished to hear from other passengers that were sitting on the front bench with the driver. The driver was remanded for eight days and bail was fixed at £100 and one personal recognisance of £100 (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 20 June 1924, p. 2).
According to the 1911 Census James Murphy, aged 36, was a publican in Mullinavat. He was married, but his wife was not listed in the Census. His sister Ellen Murphy, aged 28 was present as were his three children: Patrick Murphy, aged 12; Bridget Murphy, aged 11 and John Murphy, aged 8.
Hearing of 18 June 1924
The defendant returned to court on the 18th and Father Foskin testified that the driver was sober and kept his head even after the brakes failed. Father Foskin was unable to state what the driver was doing trying to control the vehicle after the brakes failed because he knew nothing about motor cars. Richard Walsh testified that he was the owner of the lorry and bought it new. He said it was allowed to carry 14 passengers and it was also used for hauling goods. His son was trained to drive it and had a driver’s license. District Justice Mr. J. J. Molloy refused the information filed against the driver Thomas Walsh for the murder or manslaughter of John Murphy (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 20 June 1924, p. 2).
Inquest for Andrew McLoughlin (c. 1909-1924)
Although no inquest was held for the death of John Murphy an inquest was held for 15 year-old Andrew McLoughlin (c. 1909 -1924) a verdict of accidental death was returned. It was also revealed in testimony at this inquest that the driver doggedly tried to control the lorry and negotiated two turns after the brakes “cracked.” One witness said that the lorry would have made the sharp turn at the foot of the hill except the front left tyre blew (Munster Express, Sat. 21 June 1924, p. 3). The death register reveals that Andrew McLoughlin was a 15 year-old school boy from Mullinavat. He died in the Waterford Infirmary on the 12th of June of a fractured skull.
The Main Road Through Glenmore
The Waterford to New Ross main road was being prepared for steam rolling. Improvements were being carried out by the “efficient” County Surveyor of Kilkenny. “In addition to cutting away the banks at the road sides and levelling them with road material, an arrangement was made with Mr. Doherty to widen the road at Belmount which was so narrow that two cars scarcely had room to pass one another.” Workmen were also engaged in removing the sharp corners at the Milepost Cross and under Slieverue. Further on nearer to New Ross, “the famous Pink Rock—the grave of many a tin lizzy—is to be blasted away and the materials used for filling the sides of the road. When the work is completed it will be one of the finest roads in the South of Ireland.”
“The only obstacle remaining is the railway bridge at Ballyverneen, Glenmore. The approaches are a real death trap to the unwary. It was monstrous ever to allow the railway company to construct the bridge in such a manner over this important road which is the key from Dublin and Wexford to the South of Ireland for all traffic even before the advent of motors. Had the Irregulars blown up this trap during their operations in the district, there would not be many tears shed for it” (Munster Express, Sat. 14 June 1924, p. 6).
Advert: Everyman’s Embrocation
The local newspapers were filled with adverts for local businesses as well as adverts for “remedies.” One that was for Everyman’s Embrocation.
“Don’t say your rheumatism can’t be cured. Send to-day for a bottle of Everyman’s Embrocation. Everyman’s is sold everywhere at 1s. 6d. to everybody” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 27 June 1924, p. 8).
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Vernacular Barns: Glenmore & Ontario
Recently Richard Corcelli shared some information and photos of barn raisings in Ontario, Canada from sometime around the turn of the twentieth century. In many respects the building of barns in Ontario and Glenmore at the time were similar in that both were examples of vernacular architecture. “Vernacular architecture refers to buildings outside the academic or professional architectural tradition. Vernacular building methods and building styles are handed down during the building process by demonstration, rather than by architects’ plans.” These buildings were built by local builders or semi-skilled builders and followed local tradition, limited by local needs, using available building materials. (“Vernacular Buildings” in Art & Architecture of Ireland, Vol. IV: Architecture 1600-2000, Andrew Carpenter (ed.) Royal Irish Academy (2015) p. 330). See our post of 13 June 2024 featuring several old photos of the Murphy family of Ontario, Canada, in the early 20th century shared by Richard.
Irish Vernacular Barns
Vernacular farm buildings in Ireland cannot be readily dated, but examples earlier than 1750 are considered rare. Use of timber as a walling material ceased by this time and outhouses [farm buildings] were built in various Irish regions by mud walling or of rubble stone laid in earthen mortar, with thatched roofs and white washed. (“Vernacular Farmsteads” in Art & Architecture of Ireland, Vol. IV: Architecture 1600-2000, Andrew Carpenter (ed.) Royal Irish Academy (2015) p. 337).
Barns were often the largest structures in Irish farmsteads, and were especially important in the tillage regions of south Leinster and east Munster…often housing lofts for grain and shuttered window openings onto the haggard where corn was stored and threshed. Barns generally had one door and a single slit window for ventilation. Stables and byres were commonly lower structures with cobbled floors. (“Vernacular Farmsteads” in Art & Architecture of Ireland, Vol. IV: Architecture 1600-2000, Andrew Carpenter (ed.) Royal Irish Academy (2015) p. 337). There are still a large number of stone barns across Glenmore, but they no longer feature thatch roofs.
It was not uncommon for Irish stone buildings, no longer in use, to have their stones re-used to build other structures or walls. Danny Dowling noted that the stones from the early church in Hanrahan’s field (across from the present Creamery in Glenmore Village) were used to build the walls around St. James’s Church of Glenmore.
Ontario Vernacular Barns
An unusual event for the Murphy family of Ontario, Canada in the late 19th-early 20th century era was the communal barn raising “bee” where 60-100 men and boys would gather to erect a barn. Women and girls would also gather to prepare the meals for the huge work crew.
The photo above of the men sitting atop the skeleton of a barn being raised was found by Richard Corcelli in his grandparent’s archives, so it likely the featured barn raising took place in their community in Ontario. The Ontario barns were ‘timber built’ due to the large local forests.
Barns were of the ‘post and beam’ design using 10 inch by 10 inch white pine beams to build the skeleton of the structure followed by pine boards as exterior cladding. Classically, barns in the area were 40 foot x 60 foot, built on a local stone foundation, which would form the stable for winter time housing of cattle and horses. Most barns had four bents, (an engineering term for a transverse frame), so that there was a threshing floor in the middle and two bays on either side for the hay and straw and a built-in granary to one side.
Often, barns were ‘bank’ barns’ with one foundation side built into a shallow hill to provide a ramp so that horse drawn wagon loads of hay or grain could be pulled up onto the central ‘thresh floor’.
The beam framework, or ‘bent’, was built lying on the floor of the barn and then raised into position by many men with long pike poles, first to breast height; then supported with short timber beams while the raisers got a breath, then hoisted to the upright position. As illustrated in the photo some men ‘rode’ the bent to upright, then drove hardwood pegs into previously squared mortise and tenon joints,…no metal nails were used.
The roof was made of decay resistant, split cedar shake shingles, once again using local, natural building materials. Richard’s uncle bought a farm on which the timber barn had burned but the stone foundation survived. He located a no longer used intact barn about a 100 miles away; numbered all the beams and hauled them on flatbed trucks to his farm where the barn was re-assembled. An example of early re-cycling.
Thus, the Irish who remained in Ireland like their emigrated kin used local materials to construct their barns and built the buildings with no professional plans. The barns were built to take advantage of local landscape features and needs. It would be interesting to determine how many stone barns are still standing in Glenmore as well as how many are still in use.
Special thanks to Richard Corcelli for sharing the information and photos of the Ontario barns.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. For further information on Irish architecture see the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh